HOCKEY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26177, 13 June 1946, Page 3

HOCKEY NOTES

MARKHAM CUP SERIES The first round of the Markham Cup matches of the North Otago Men’s Hockey Sub-association was completed for four of the six teams on Saturday. The grounds were again on the heavy side, a factor which has been responsible for the absence of spectacular play for the major part of the season. Last Saturday’s conditions, especially on 2 ground, were nothing short of a " mudbath ” around the in-goal areas. With wet weather prevailing again during this week, the grounds at the present moment should be very soft. It seems a pity that both fields at King George’s Park could not be ” rested ” and given a good period in which to soak out and allow a playable surface to settle. The best hockey can never be played under such conditions Championship Points At the conclusion of the first round, the championship points were as follows:—^

A Surprise Win Tainui White, the lowest team in points of the four stronger teams in the Markham Cup competition, secured a surprisewin over Oamaru Black, the leading team on Saturday. Oamaru probably had its strongest team yet fielded, and it was only through positional play that Tainui secured a win A. Aitken. playing for Oamaru, played a sound game, but the Tainui halves were marking him well, and did not give him many opportunities. The Tainui full-backs played the off-side rule to advantage, and the Oamaru forwards were penalised ony many occasions for offside. This, too. was a contributing factor to Tainui's win, as in other games Oamaru's forwards are a little too anxious Tainui’s left and right halves did not keep their positions as they should have done, and consequently the centre-half had more than his share of work. Kakanul Shows Form In its game against Tainui Black on Saturday, the Kakanui eleven again showed form and improvement in their style of play. The strongest section of the team was undoubtedly the back line, and in the last game that section was responsible for really good play. The forwards, on the other hand, were still inclined to bunch too much and on several occasions two men of the same team were struggling to gain possession of the ball from each other. A good test for the Kakanui backs was the sound play of the Tainui forwards, who maintained a good combination, especially towards the latter stages of the game, when the majority of their six goals were secured. In the Kakanui goal-mouth when on attack the Tainui forwards adopted good positional tactics instead of an “ all-in ” effort to score. Rovers Improve In the match Rovers v. Oamaru White on Saturday, Rovers showed improvement in their play. The defence was sound, and the attack, although ragged at times, always kept the Oamaru players on their toes. D. Whittaker, left half for Rovers, played a sound game, and has the makings of a good half. Rovers’ goalie. J. Newton also played well and saved many scores. L. Blair, full-back for Oamaru, was again in form, and was always a thorn in the attackers’ side. The game was open, but the state of the ground slowed it down considerably. Rovers stand a good chance, on their present form, of securing a good position in the second division of the Markham Cup competition. Two Divisions It was decided at the sub-association meeting on Monday to play the Markham Cup competition in two divisions. The first division consists of Oamaru Black and White, and Tainui Black and White, and the second division of Kakanui 1 and 2 Rovers and Oamaru. Two new teams, kakanui 2 and Oamaru, were entered for the second round. Rovers still have two games to play in the first pound, against Tainui White and Kakanui, and if these games are to make any difference in deciding the Markham Cup competition they will be played at a later date. Draw for Saturday Men.—First division: Oamaru White v. Oamaru Black, No. 1 ground. 3 p.m. (Messrs E. Coker and E. Pearce); Tainui Black v. Tainui White, No. 2 ground. 3 p.m. (Messrs C. Rawstorn and Haugh) Second division: Kakanui I v. Kakanui II (Mr H. Scally); Oamaru v. Rovers, No. 2 ground, 1.45 p.m. (Messrs L. Blair and I. Sherwin). Women.—Pirata White v. Kurow Brown Orana Park 145 p.m. (Mesdames Pearce and Sutherland); Virata Blue v. Kurow White 3 p.m., Orana Park (Messrs G Thorpe and C. Williamson); Waimate Red v. Windsor, Windsor, 2.45 p m (Messrs .T. London and R. Hanning); Waimate White v Ngapara, 2.45 p.m., Ngapara (Mrs Boyd and Mr T. Holmes). Teams for Saturday Tainui.— White: E. Todd; C. Mills. I. Sherwin, J. Ross, D. Tonkin. A. Bannerman A. Drabble, P. Connors, D. Fogarty. A. Kilpatrick, M. Marshall. Black. H. Allan G Maynard, B. Telfer, J. Sherwin, M. Tonkin, T. Ball, R. Coffee, E A A Mitchell, F. Fogarty, G. Mitchell, emergencies —A. Dowdle, G. Henderson. R. Nightingale. M. Chittock. R. Rawson. R. M Rove'rs.-J. Newton. L. Hedges. McDonald McCabe. Whittaker j (2). Burden. Lowen Thorpe (2), Kennedy, Gray Dex ter Brown, Woods, Cooney* _ Kakanui.-l: R. Sowden L Marwick L. Dalgety, F. Stuartson, R. Sinclair, A. TV son R Sidon, J. Oats. F. Sidon, H. Scally, G Dalgety. II: J. McGregor, A. Marwick, J.' Parks, T. Aitchison. W McDonald. R. McDonald, J. Anderson. A. Tyson. M. Mathie, G. Bugden. R. or '? a^ y ' Tnri „ r a Pirata —Blues: E. Thomas, W. inaer, a. sS k s !:SwS 00 ?: feJSSSSS’ £ Steffenson, D. Cox.

P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Oamaru Black .. 5 4 1 — 29 5 8 Oamaru White .. 5 3 1 1 19 15 7 Tainui Black .. 5 3 2 — 22 9 6 Tainui White .. 4 2 1 1 13 6 5 Kakanui .. .. 4 — 4 — 3 28 — Rovers .. .. 3 — 3 — 3 26 —